Chic vs. Geek: Stability in Uncertain Times

Many homebuyers are hitting the pause button due to rising interest rates, inflation, and other economic fluctuations. But waiting will only make the price tag higher as long as Silicon Valley home values remain immune from market fluctuations. Let’s take a look at a few reasons why this is true:

CHIC (PEARL)

Wealth: Silicon Valley has the highest level of income and wealth inequality in the U.S., and it increased dramatically during COVID. That means fewer people can afford to buy, and those who can are ready to spend big sums to get what they want.

Jobs: Silicon Valley’s unemployment rate fell to 2.9% at the end of 2021, and tech jobs are now 5% above pre-COVID levels. That means more demand from well-paid workers, and it only deepens as cities continue to miss their housing production goals.

Employer Confidence: Google, LinkedIn, Apple, Amazon, Facebook/Meta and other tech giants made major investments in Silicon Valley real estate in 2021, which means those well-paying jobs aren’t going anywhere, and neither are the service industries that support them.

GEEK (KEVIN)

Investment Housing: The Santa Clara County Housing “Affordability Index” stands at 22%, which means less than 1 in 4 residents can purchase a median priced home. So it should come as no surprise that the share of homes sold for investment hit 9.5% in 2021.

Strong Fundamentals: The housing market boom we’re seeing now in Silicon Valley isn’t a “bubble” like 2007. With the third highest concentration of “equity rich” homes in the country, our region is fundamentally sound and hard to crack.

Future Demand: Over 4.5 million Millennials will turn 30 over the next few years and look to increase wealth through homeownership. And more than a decade of under-building, Capital Gains Tax regulations, and Prop 13 protections are sure to sustain high demand — and prices — for years to come.